I need a new front tire for my wife’s TW. We are 100% dirt only. I want best performing dirt tire for the front there is. I targeting success in the sand environment, not dunes, just washes and such. We ride in the California southern desert.
Cost is no object in keeping her vertical. I’ve searched the archive, and found a lot of recommendations for the Maxxis 6006 which isn’t available. I’ve also seen a couple recommendations for the Kenda K760 and 270. I was about to pull the trigger on the Kenda 270 in a 510-18R size, but my local online place didn’t have it they only had the smaller metric sizes.
I’m not an expert on tires at all, but the Maxxis M7305D looked like it might work as a front tire, but they only come in 120/100-18. I think I want a (120 or 130) /(80 or 90)-18 right?
We are talking about putting a tire meant for the back of a big dirt bike on the front of the TW right?
Any help here would be appreciated. I can’t afford her to have anymore wipe outs or she will stop coming.
If you won't be riding on the road at all then you have many choices. If you need a D.O.T. tire, then choices are limited. I've used both a Maxxis 6006 (mounted on my bike) and a Dunlop 606 (mounted on my Dad's bike) and they both work great.
Thanks for the input. I went back and read the posting recommended. I decided to go with the Kenda 270 5.10R18 over the Dunlap 606. It looked "grippier". (if that is a word) I wish I knew more about tires.
My wife hasn't laid the TW down yet. I got her an XT225, and she went down right away crossing a wash. End of first weekend. I put the front tire off my XR650R on it and it was better, but she was still scared in any type of sand. End of second weekend. Third weekend I bought her the TW. I want a really good front tire before we got out again. Gotta be success oriented!
im working throgh the same isue with sand,and tire choice,(havent upgraded yet),what worx the best on my tw200 (stock tires)is 3rd geer(14/50) ,butt 2"-4" off seat and back a bit and stay on throttle,seems like enough momentum to stay on top of the sand,,kinda skary at first if she gets in a sand rut its safer to stay in it ,lean your body while keeping bike strait up,,,basicly when it gets scary gas on it lol,,i just went to a 14/45,maybe able to do that in 2nd dunno yet,,when it gets squirly i find myself riding it like a 3 wheeler(steering with foot pegs to keep it vertical)cat wait to get my 350X out of storage,thats the sand sreadder for me
I wanted to get the knobbiest street legal tires possible. I picked up the Kenda Trackmaster (K760) 110/100-18 for the front. It is a rear tire. Then my husband got the same thing on the rear of his KlX 250, he likes it too. We ride 80% on sand, but used it on rocks, water puddles, street. Lower psi makes a big difference in the sand, last I checked it was down at 12psi.
Love these tires and they are much better off road, than the stock tires. Am I always vertical? No. I don't think any bike or tire can guarantee that off road.
Some specs:
ITEM #_US PRODUCT FEATURES SIZE OD_INCHES OD_MM SW_INCHES SW_MM MAX PSI TREAD DEPTH_MM WEIGHT_LBS
Any chance you could link or upload a photo of your TW with the Kenda K760 on the front? I've been thinking of putting a more aggressive tire on the front recently...
Yes, the K760 is a DOT tire. Be forewarned, it handles funny on the street when new, like a constant wobble of the handlebars at 55mph on pavement. In the dirt it feels like the front end is constantly wandering from side to side, until you lean into a corner and the rows of lugs on the sides dig in. Then it rails. Just ignore the vagueness in straight line stability and ride the bike. This tire will not let you down.
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